A five-block line of vehicles stretched through a Southeast Portland neighborhood Sunday afternoon as drivers waited for a chance to demonstrate one of driving’s most dreaded maneuvers: parallel parking.

Hundreds showed up to watch, including nearby neighbors, dog walkers and passersby curious why so many people had gathered to watch a person park a car.

Some settled into folding chairs. Others stood in the cool shade beneath a broad canopy of trees. A few arrived wearing traffic cones strapped to their heads.

The attraction was Portland’s second annual Parallel Parking Competition, staged on the street outside Daniel Lyman’s home near Southeast Pine Street and Southeast 29th Avenue. The event was born from a random, nonchalant conversation between Lyman and his best friend, Stefanie Lynch.

Last year’s contest was thrown together within days of that conversation, yet somehow attracted local and national media attention, even earning the duo an appearance on “Good Morning America.” This year’s event returned with support and prizes from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, including Parking Kitty vouchers.

About 80 cars competed during the roughly five-hour event, with drivers attempting to reverse into a space between two parked vehicles. Entries ranged from older rear-wheel-drive compact pickups to a tiny British roadster whose small size and open cockpit made backing into the space nearly as easy as driving forward.

Backup cameras were forbidden. Pool noodles protected the bumpers of the parked cars, but touching either vehicle meant disqualification — something that happened often.

Not every attempt involved a car. A motorcyclist took a turn, drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd. A father pushed his child through the course in a stroller and received a perfect score.

When one driver competed with a baby on board, the announcer lowered his voice and asked the crowd to do the same. Hundreds of spectators whispered through the entire attempt to avoid waking the baby.

Simply fitting into the space was only part of the challenge. Competitors were scored on how quickly they parked, the length of their vehicle and their distance from the curb. Longer vehicles earned more points, while shorter cars earned fewer. Judges could also award subjective “flair points” for style.

KOIN-TV meteorologist Josh Cozart and a Portland Bureau of Transportation parking enforcement officer helped judge the competition. Portland drag queen Nicole Onoscopi provided commentary from a second-story deck above the street.

The five highest-scoring drivers advanced to the Tournament of Champions at 4 p.m.

“If they do a good job, they move on to the Tournament of Champions,” Lyman said. “If not, then we give them a handshake and they go on their way.”

Lyman said last year’s fastest time was about 17 seconds. Portlander Kyle Kaufman beat that mark in the Tournament of Champions, winning with a 16-second park and a score of 85.72. He took home the competition’s gold spray-painted miniature Subaru trophy.

“Everyone stuck around to the end, and there was huge applause for Kyle,” Lyman said. “He had his family in the back seat, so that was really sweet.”

Asked whether the competition would return next year, Lyman had one condition.

“Only if we can make it even sillier!” he said.